NEIL LENNON has challenged his Celtic players to reclaim their place at the Premiership pinnacle this weekend.
The Hoops boss witnessed his team claw their way back from the loss of a third-minute goal from Lee Erwin to overcome a battling St Mirren side 2-1 in Paisley last night.
The nine-in-a-row champions recovered from the jolt to level through Shane Duffy, with his second goal in two games since his loan arrival from Brighton, and then clinch the points with a brilliant diving header from James Forrest.
Lennon then set his sights on the visit of Livingston to Parkhead on Saturday where a win could catapult his side back to the top of the table.
The Parkhead side narrowed the gap on Steven Gerrard’s side with a game in hand with their win over Jim Goodwin’s team.
Despite Saints’ on-loan keeper Zdenek Zlamal denying the visitors a more emphatic margin of victory with a penalty-kick save from Odsonne Edouard 14 minutes from time, Lennon admitted satisfaction. Now a victory over Gary Holt’s outfit could see his side go top – 24 hours before the Ibrox men face Hibs at Easter Road,
Admitting top spot is a huge incentive for his side, the Irishman, speaking to the Daily Mail, said: “It’s one we are looking forward to, they are working hard.
“We have set them some targets now for this block of games before we break up for the internationals
“It’s not like us to concede from a set-play, but our reaction to that was fantastic. We deserved to go in at half-time in front and we scored two very good goals, two headers which is different for us.
“And then we dominated the second-half. Obviously, we missed the penalty, but it wasn’t for the lack of trying that we didn’t get that third goal. St Mirren defended stoically and very, very deep and sometimes that can be difficult to break down.
“It’s a great win and a great three points.”
